My Biz: Corn Fusion sells 85 flavors of popcorn

CEDAR RAPIDS - The business of pretty popcorn - salty as well as sweet - is a miracle as far as Melissa Blanchett is concerned.

'My uncle had this dream to open this business. He'd met with a guy from Texas who'd taught him a few things about popcorn,” she said of Corn Fusion.

The locally-owned, family-operated business offers 85 flavors of gourmet popcorn, a dozen-plus kinds of homemade fudge, and vintage candy from its location inside Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids.

'When we first opened, I wasn't sure we'd still be here four years later because you don't know for sure how much popcorn people are going to buy, or if they will get burned out on it.”

Blanchett, along with her uncle, aunt and both of her parents, work in the business. They also sell their products at NewBo City Market, a Hy-Vee Drugstore, a local Theisen's store and to the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Corn Fusion employs 14 nonfamily members to help with the seven-day retail and production segments of the business.

'Popcorn is really popular right now with weddings and things like Super Bowl Sunday,” Blanchett said. Super Bowl Sunday is one of Corn Fusion's busiest times.

'And Black Friday,” Blanchett added, noting that is a long work day for them. 'We open at 8 in the morning.”

With so many flavors available, Blanchett said a lot of experimentation goes into product creation.

'You have to play to the masses,” she said, when figuring out what will sell, and what won't.

'We tried a coconut curry, which sounded good in theory, but it didn't sell so we cut that,” Blanchett said. A black cheesecake popcorn is popular with Prairie and Hawkeye fans.

Blanchett said they listen to their customers' requests, too.

'We had one customer who'd recently been to a popcorn shop in Georgia tell us they'd found Twix popcorn ... so we now have a Twix popcorn, too.”

The shop offers such seasonal favorites such as cranberry-orange, pumpkin and pumpkin pie flavors. Beginning on Black Friday, Corn Fusion will have eggnog and candy cane popcorn.

'And minterwonderland,” Blanchett said. 'It's white chocolate with peppermint crushed into it. It is delicious.”

Small, specialty businesses like popcorn require a business plan and the right location. Blanchett said her family looked at opening in Coralville, 'but Lindale was it, really, from the beginning.

'When we start popping popcorn with all these different flavors, it just draws people in from the mall. It was important for our business to be in an open area.”

At a Glance

Company: Corn Fusion

Address: 4444 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids

Phone: (319) 294-2676

Website: www.cornfusion.com

- Know a company in business for more than a year that would make an ideal My Biz? Contact Francie Williamson at francie.williamson@thegazette.com